§ 40. Mr. MALCOLM MacMILLANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to take any action with regard to the repeated demands of the herring fishing industry for a minimum wage of £2 per week; what that action is likely to be; and when he will take it?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir Godfrey Collins)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18th February to the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby) in which I explained that the financial assistance provided by the Herring Industry Act cannot competently be used to guarantee a minimum wage and that 2591 I can hold out no prospects of legislation for that purpose.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYIs the Minister in touch with the Herring Board and the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence regarding special emergency measures relating to this industry, so far as affects general defence measures?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI am in touch with my right hon. Friend.
§ 69. Mr. LEONARDasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many herring-fishing drifters were chartered last year to assist the Fishery Board cruisers in policing Scottish fishing grounds; the months they were so employed; whether similar use will be made of fishing drifters this year; and to what extent?
§ Sir G. COLLINSFour drifters were hired for fishery protection duty during the periods January to March and October to December, 1935, and two drifters during the remaining six months of the year. During the current year four drifters were employed from January to March, since when two have been employed. The question of increasing the drifter patrol during the winter months will be considered in due course.